Madison well represented in Rocket City Marathon

HUNTSVILLE – A stinging, cold north wind gusting up to 20 miles per hour hit the faces of the more than 1,400 participants in the 2025 Rocket City Marathon presented by the Huntsville Track Club and the Huntsville Sports Commission making the 49th running of the 26.2mile trek one of the coldest in the history of the event.

With the start gun blasting away for runners representing 48 states and eight countries, the contingent of athletes ranging in ages 14-80 hit the scheduled trek through numerous historical and popular landmarks with the start and finish at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville. An official total of finishers was 1,413 with 915 male and 498 female.

Through the 25-degree temperature and 14-degree wind chill throughout the race, 25-year old Vladimir Zander-Velloso of Newman, Ga. set the tone with his winning time of 2:28:34. He was followed over the finish line by second place finisher Andrew Taylor, 25, of Lafayette, In. at 2:29:33 and Erick Kigen, 37 of Huntsville at 2:33:36. The female division was led by Megan Allan of Huntsville as the 41-year old took the top honor with a time of 2:48:33. Twenty- year old Bella Butler was runner-up at 2:49:12 and Huntsville’s Tay Cavett, 27, was third with a finish time of 2:51:24.

As an annual occurrence within the running of the Rocket City Marathon are the participants from Madison and again this year the Madison residents raced well and made Madison proud. Top Madison runner was Josh Whitehead who took the finish line celebration at 2:42:38. The 47-year old Whitehead, who was No. 15 overall, was followed closely by Michael Volz, 30, at 2:43:16 who finished No. 16. The third place finisher from Madison was Michael Crouch, 37 at 2:49:53 good enough for No. 35 overall.

Madison’s list of female runners who completed the annual trek was led by Karen Rudolph, 39, at 3:43:54, followed by Emily Parish, 26, 3:45:25 and Samantha Whitehead, 41, 3:49:48. Rudolph stated prior to marathon attempt, “I started running as a way to stay in shape. Once I actually was in decent running shape, it became my morning ‘me time.’ Now, when I run, I feel like I can conquer the day.”

Joshua Schofield, who was featured in a previous edition of the Madison Record, ran his first attempt at a marathon and had never made a run more than 19 miles. Through numerous efforts to beat sleep apnea, losing 70 pounds in six months and having surgery to open his airway allowing him to overcome a congenital breathing obstruction, combined with jaw and sinus surgeries, the 46-year old military veteran completed his goal of finishing a marathon with a time of 5:34:12. His overall finish was No. 1,226 of 1,869 who began the race and he was No. 826 among 1,203 male runners in the race.

Youngest to take the effort of completing the marathon in the all-day raw weather conditions was Aashka Bhardway, 14, Ashburn, Va., No. 1,274, 5:44:12. Eldest finisher was Warren Everett, 80, Huntsville, No. 1,397, 6:57:40.

The three-day race event also include the half-marathon. Overall winner was Roberto Fajardo Strnad, 25, 1:12:57 of Ooltewah, Tenn. Top female finisher was Madison’s Sarah Crouch, 36, who took the title by 30 seconds over the runner-up with a time 1:18:55.The multi-race event also included the 10K which was won by Victory Kiprop, 27, of Junction City, Kan. at 31:51 and female’s top runner Leahrose Mami, 25, of Northport at 38:52. In the 5K race, male winner was Henry Ahrens, 17, of AcWorth, Ga. while female winner was Madison’s Samantha Menikheim, 19, with a time of 20:20.

Age group winners for the marathon included 5054 female division Cheryl Davies. The 52-year old posted a time of 3:57:27. Half-marathon age group winners featured 19-under, male, Roman Hanson of Madison. The 17-year old completed the quickpaced race at 1:21:29, and 40-44 female division was won by Madison’s Julie Vieselmeyer, 44, at 1:33:58.